KO resolution side effects

Some New Year’s resolutions have sneaky downsides that can compromise your dental health. Who knew? Thankfully, these tweaks protect your smile

Losing weight with lemon water? Sip quick!

Swapping one soda a day for a tall glass of lemon water trims nearly 200 calories from your diet while boosting your liver’s ability to flush out toxins responsible for post-holiday bloat. The downside: “Lemon water can throw the mouth into an acidic state that can erode enamel,” explains Inna Chern, D.D.S. To limit enamel’s contact with citrus acids, drink your lemony H2O in one sitting. Afterward, rinse with plain water. “Swishing will help rebalance the oral ph in the mouth,” explains Dr. Chern.

Adding smoothies? Skip staining with straws

Lots of us kick off the new year vowing to eat healthier by adding smoothies packed with brightly colored foods that are bursting with nutrients. The only problem: “Anything that would stain your white shirt can also stain your teeth,” says Dr. Chern. Her simple fix? “Drink your smoothie through a reusable straw. The liquid will never touch the fronts of teeth where stains are most noticeable.” Tip: Toss in a handful of frozen strawberries and a splash of milk. Explains Dr. Chern: “Strawberries contain malic acid that can actually brighten teeth, while dairy contains lactic acid that helps protect and harden enamel.”

Stopping habits with gum? Dodge decay with this

Australian research suggests that chewing gum really does help you stick to resolutions by quashing stress hormones that trigger cravings. To protect your pearlies, choose a gum sweetened with xylitol. The sugar-free sweetener sourced from the birch tree cuts your chances of decay 59%. “Bacteria in the mouth can’t digest xylitol,” explains Dr. Chern. And starving them resets levels along the gum line to a healthier bacterial balance.